Important Guidance Regarding New Diversity Training Executive Order   Last month, the White House issued an Executive Order (EO) on Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping that may have a negative impact on racial and gender diversity, equity, and inclusion trainings for federal contractors and grantees.   The EO would ban certain words and concepts from being used in trainings such as those "based on race and sex stereotyping," as well as training that "portrays certain races as oppressors." Already, federal agencies have been cancelling trainings on implicit bias and sexual harassment. In coming weeks, nonprofits that renew federal contracts and grants could see new language that forbids trainings and use of certain terms such as "implicit bias".   The EO requires that agencies review their grant programs and orders the agencies to identify programs that would require a recipient to certify that they would not use Federal funds to promote concepts of "divisive ideologies". We anticipate that the EO will likely be challenged in court. However, in the meantime it is important to understand how it may impact your agency. Independent Sector has released an FAQ document on the executive order.   Here is an in-depth piece by the National Council of Nonprofits for more analysis.   NJHSA has joined other national charitable organizations in signing a letter to the Administration expressing serious concerns about the EO and its potential chilling effect on efforts to advance diversity, justice, equity, and inclusion throughout our sector. We are working with other national partners on tracking implementation and response and will keep you posted with any developments.   Reuben Rotman, President & CEO Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies October 21, 2020